Chapter 2: First Day Trouble (Luke)
I can’t believe I’m staring at the same building. The last time I was outside this building was during the fire, when I lost my brother. A few weeks have passed since the incident and Skye Tech Industries headquarters looks exactly the same as it was before the fire. It kind of seems like the tragedy never happened. It looks as busy as ever, with employees going in and out of the building.
I slowly approached the giant glass doors to the building. There was a second set of glass doors where guards inspects each person going in and out. I showed my ID to a guard and he pushed a button on the side of the glass door then immediately returned my ID to me. With a soft beep, the door opened and I was allowed inside. I looked at my the ID in my hands, and traced the name printed on it.
Lucas Harrison
Intern
I’ve always dreamed of working here. I’ve always wanted to be part of this place. Now that I’m here, I don’t feel as happy as I should be. As I walked through the lobby of the building, I couldn’t help but remember what happened a few weeks ago. The fire. My brother. Maybe that’s why I don’t feel as excited about this place anymore. My view of this place is forever tainted with the painful memory of loosing my brother.
My eyes landed on the large digital clock displayed behind the receptionists table at the lobby which reminded me of the time and why I was here in the first place. I approached one of the receptionist and placed folder on his desk to be checked, “Hi I’m Lucas Harrison, I’m here for the internship.”
The receptionist gave me a smile as he flipped through my papers. “Please proceed to room 3E, it’s on the third floor. You can take the guests elevator which is to the left through there, “ He pointed to the right side of the lobby. I thanked him before going to the direction he pointed.
When I entered the room, there were few other people already in the room. Most of them looked at me when I entered the room. I kept my head down as walked towards an empty chair closest to where I entered. I looked around the other people sitting around the glass table. There were five of us in the room in total. Am I the last one to arrive?
“Hi I’m Walter Greene,” the person to my left offered a hand to me. I shook it in return. Walter looks to be going through a transition. I kind of wanted to ask about what pronouns to use but I’m having second thoughts. Walter seemed to notice me staring and raised an eyebrow at me, “If you wanna ask, just ask.”
”Oh... uh sorry, umm, I was just wondering,” I was at lost for words. You’re such an idiot Luke, Walter might think you hate him.
”Yeah, I’m trans.”
I took a deep breath and finally asked, “What pronouns would you like to use?”
Walter’s expression seemed to light up, “I use he/they pronouns”
I nodded my head with a smile, “I’m Luke Harrison by the way.”
”Wait are you related to Matthew Harrison? The guy who died in the fire?” Another guy on the opposite side of the table said to me.
”Gary!” The girl beside him nudge his side. She had a noticeable thick British accent. “That was quite rude.” She then turned to me with a soft smile, “Sorry about him.”
”It’s okay,” I replied to her. “Yeah he’s my brother.”
Their eyes were all on me. I can see the sympathy in their eyes. I shook my head and gave the, a weak smile, “It’s okay.” They gave me an understanding look as a response.
Clari then proceeded to introduce herself and the person on her right and left respectively with a thick British accent, “I’m Clari, this is Gary, and that’s Maria.” Gary gave me wave and a smile while Maria reached over her hand to shake mine.
It didn’t take long when someone else entered the room. She was holding a clipboard and introduced herself, “Good morning everyone, my name is Lara Soo. I will be your in charge of your internship training for these coming weeks. As you already know it was quite a competition when you applied. Out of all the 400 applicants, you five are chosen for the internship program. That being said, you need to prove to us that we made the right decision of choosing you, otherwise you can say goodbye to a chance at working here.”
”In these coming weeks, you will get a chance of working for some of the the top scientists in the company. I want you to observe and learn as much as you can. A job at Skye Tech Industries isn’t always just inventing, it’s also about teamwork and cooperation. You need to be able to learn to work for others and work with others. I want you to think of yourselves as a team rather than competitors. That’s how you’ll be able to survive here.”
After her speech, Ms. Soo gave us some booklets about how the training will go through. “There are only certain places accessible to interns such as yourselves. Some laboratories are off limits so make sure you know where you’re going. If you are caught looking around an area where you’re not supposed to be you are to be removed immediately from the program. When working with some of the scientists, they can give you permission to enter some laboratories which they require you to go to, only if those places are accessible by them as well.”
Ms. Soo gave each of us a keycard, “These are your keycards. Each one has your name on it and it will serve as your ID during the program. You can use them to access doors and elevators. Just know that each access is recorded and these will only allow access to places permissible to you. You can refer to the handbook where you are allowed to go around in the building. It’s a pretty big building so I am giving you some time to explore the place. You can stick together or explore alone, just make sure to not go to restricted areas. You can also go to the intern’s lounge room at 5B03, there’s drinks and food there. At exactly one o’clock, I’ll meet you guys here to discuss the specifics of your training for this week.” With that she left the room.
”Where should we go first?” Gary wiggled his eyebrows at us.
Clari’s eyes seem to light up, “Ooh, maybe we should check the labs.”
”We’re not allowed in any of the labs tho,” Maria countered.
”We’ll just stay outside then,” Gary responded.
Their conversation faded out in my head as I flipped through the booklet given to us by Ms. Soo. Clari mentioning the labs reminded me of my brother. Each of the senior scientists in the company gets their own personal laboratory. It’s like their personal space where they can go invent and make plans of their own. Of course there are also a different laboratories called the main labs for their much bigger projects like the one my brother showed me during the event. Matthew was a senior scientist so he definitely has a personal lab. I’m not sure where it is exactly since the event was the first time he brought me here. Reading through the handbook gave me my answer. According to it, senior scientist’s personal laboratories are located on 7th floor of the building. That’s where I need to go.
My thoughts was cut off when I heard my name being called. It was Walter. “Luke, wanna come with us? We’re gonna go look at the main labs”
”It’s okay, I think I’ll go to the restroom first.”
“You want us to wait for you?” Maria offered.
I waved my hands in disagreement, “No, it’s okay. You guys go on ahead.”
They just responded with either an alright or a nod then left the room. I looked outside first to make sure they’re gone before I made my way to the elevator. I tapped my ID at the scanner on top of the floor buttons then clicked the 7th floor. I hope no one gets in and sees me. Fortunately no one did. My heart started beating faster when the elevator doors opened on the 7th floor. There was no one on the hallway so I proceeded to find my brother’s laboratory. I didn’t know which room number his lab is, but then I saw his name on one of the doors. Matthew Harrison. My feet seemed to walk on its own, drawn to the door that bears my brother’s name.
This is a bad idea. This is a bad idea. This is a bad idea.
Five words repeatedly echoes itself in my mind as approached the blurry glass door. There was a keypad attached to it. It took me a moment to realize I was starting at the number of the keypad. It’s not like I had to guess the four numbers required to unlock the door. I know those numbers, it was my birthday. There was a small pain in my chest as I put in the numbers, 0724. I only saw Matthew use these numbers as a code once, when he showed me the giant machine he was working on, before the incident. After the door accepted the numbers I put in, I gently pulled the keycard out of my pocket and placed it on the keypad attached to the doors. A soft beep came out of the key pad and the glass doors opened revealing a small room. There were blueprints placed all over it, probably for some other projects Matthew was working on. I searched around the room, looking for something I’m not exactly sure of. An evidence maybe, or a clue. But a clue for what?
As I went around the room, I couldn’t help but miss my brother. In every corner of the room, I can see him. All these stuff was Matthew’s. The plans, the notes, the unfinished projects all over the room was his. I can’t help but wonder how his daily life was in this room. This small laboratory was a part of his everyday life. There was a table near the window, where the plans and notes are organized. He always like things to be in order. I remember when he kept scolding me when he sees my room was a mess. I’ve always found it annoying before, but now I just miss it.
I felt my knees getting weaker, and before I knew it I found myself sitting on a couch behind his desk. I thought I had it together when I first came here. I knew what continuing the internship would put me through. I’ll be in the same building he used to work in. I thought at first that maybe it’ll help me, but now I’m no longer sure. My first day as an intern and I already broke into his old laboratory in the company. I couldn’t help it, especially when I found his keycard in my pocket after the fire. I kept thinking that maybe he wanted to tell me something, show me something. What was I thinking?
It’s been weeks after his death, after the fire, after the explosions. We didn’t even have a body to bury. We had to bury an empty casket just to have something to mourn. We had nothing and no one to blame. The police reports said it was an accident. They said the fire was caused by a malfunction of machine on one of the laboratories. This was then backed up by the company saying Matthew was one of the scientist who was working on the machine that malfunctioned thus he would’ve been the first to die during the explosion. I couldn’t seem to believe it though. I have this feeling that there’s more to it than the police and the company lead on.
I wiped the tears that unknowingly stained my cheeks and proceeded to stand up. I looked around the room one last time and stumbled upon a sealed envelope with a figure of a fox bearing a T in its face. It sparked curiosity in me. Could this be the clue I was looking for? What is this weird symbol? Did it have anything to do with the fire? I stuffed it in my jacket’s pocket and was about to leave the room when I heard a beeping sound from outside. It was followed by the door opening and I was faced with a familiar face. Olivia.
”What are you doing here?!” Her voice was a whisper but still the mixture of annoyance and shock was noticeable. She immediately closed the door behind her when she entered the room.
”Oh... uhh... I was umm. I was just looking around.” My response sounded more like a question than an answer which gained a raised eyebrow from Olivia. I can’t tell the expression she has on her face. She just stared at me for a moment and then sighed in what seems like defeat.
”I’m an intern,” I said in my defense as I showed her my ID attached to my shirt.
She frowned at the ID in response, “I know, I can see that.” I didn’t know what to say so I just stayed silent. It wasn’t long when she proceeded to walk past me towards my brother’s desk. My eyes followed her cross the room as if on instinct. She looked at the plans on the table, she seems to be searching for something. I wonder what she’s looking for? Why is she even here? Is she even allowed to be here? Well I guess she clearly is since she was able to get in.
I was gathering the courage to ask the questions that were plaguing my mind when she spoke, “You’re not supposed to be here.” All the words I was able to gather disappeared in an instant. I got flustered. She was right. I’m not supposed to be here. Me being here could even get me kicked out of the internship program. I didn’t even try to respond to her, instead I just hurried out if the room, hoping she won’t tell her superiors where I was.
Gifts
-- Gift
received Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone